Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Local Enterprise Partnerships (1) are locally democratically accountable, and (2) are working co-operatively with local authorities.

Lord Callanan: In order to ensure that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are locally democratically accountable, and work co-operatively with local authorities, the Government requires each LEP to adhere to the National Assurance Framework. The Framework is available to view on the GOV.UK website.

Insurance: Accountancy

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the effects of IFRS 17 on the profits of the inherited estate of insurance companies, and (2) the reported remarks by Peter Drummond that IFRS 17 allows profits to be recognised in the accounts of insurance companies before the shareholders are entitled to those profits, and that this estate may amount to £30bn for the three main insurers.

Lord Callanan: The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) is in the process of assessing IFRS 17 for use in the UK. The criteria for their assessment is set out in The International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 No. 685. The UKEB is expected to publish its draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment for public consultation, shortly. This draft assessment is expected to include consideration of the effects of IFRS 17 on the profits of inherited estates of insurance companies. Peter Drummond fed back the views that had been received by the FRC in discussions on the IFRS standard. The ‘reported remarks’ do not reflect the view of the UKEB Secretariat or the UKEB Board but of certain stakeholders; such views have been considered by the UKEB along with other evidence. The outcome of this consideration will be set out in the draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment, when it is issued for public consultation.

Delivery Services: Internet

Lord Wills: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote consumer confidence in buying online; and what assessment they have made of the performance of delivery companies in this regard.

Lord Callanan: Through the Consumer Right Act 2015 and other legislation, the Government ensures that consumers have specified rights when shopping online. Furthermore, the Government has consulted on measures to boost these online rights further, including proposals to prevent consumers being misled by fake reviews and preventing online exploitation of consumer behaviour. The consultation is now closed and the Government response will be published in due course.Ofcom is the UK’s independent regulator of postal services. It monitors competition and consumer protection in the sector. Ofcom is currently conducting a review of postal regulation so that it remains relevant and fit for purpose in the light of market changes. It intends to publish a consultation later this year before concluding the review next year.

Delivery Services

Lord Wills: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of the importance of home parcel deliveries during the last 18 months to the health and well-being of the UK; what conclusions, if any, they have drawn from any such assessment; and what plans they have to further regulate home parcel deliveries to protect the public interest.

Lord Callanan: The Government remains committed to ensuring the universal postal service, through the universal service obligation, remains affordable and accessible to all users.Ofcom, as the UK’s designated independent regulator of postal services, is carrying out a review of the future regulatory framework for post which it aims to complete in 2022. As part of this review, Ofcom is considering whether extra consumer protections may be required and has sought views on the future regulation of the parcel delivery market. A Call for Inputs was launched on 11 March 2021 and closed on 20 May 2021. Ofcom intends to publish a full consultation on the future regulation of postal services later this year.

Help to Grow Scheme

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow participants in the Small Business Leadership Programme to participate in the Help to Grow Scheme.

Lord Callanan: Help to Grow: Management built on lessons from the successful Small Business Leadership Programme (SBLP), which the programme replaced. The programme is regularly kept under review and as part of this, we will continue to review the eligibility criteria to ensure it effectively supports businesses and delivers its outcomes.

Iron and Steel: Carbon Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a steel sector deal (1) to help UK producers compete internationally, and (2) to provide long-term, sustainable policy support for the steel industry to transition to a low-carbon future.

Lord Callanan: The Government recognises the vital role that the steel sector plays in our economy and across all areas of the UK. We are keen to secure a competitive and viable future for the sector and have already provided it with extensive support, including ​more than £600 million to help with the high cost of electricity. In order to help UK steel producers to compete internationally, the Government is providing funding for a programme of research and innovation delivered by the Materials Processing Institute, which will help the UK steel and metals sector to improve efficiencies and reduce emissions. In addition to this, we are also providing up to £66 million in taxpayer support as part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help key foundation industries, such as steel, to develop innovative technology to reduce energy and resource use. We have also established the £315 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, which aims to support businesses with high energy use to cut their bills and reduce carbon emissions. In October 2021, we published the Net Zero Strategy, which committed to provide further support for research and innovation through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which is a £1 billion fund that aims to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies, systems, and business models in power, buildings, and industry. Initiatives led by the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre will support the fuel switch to low carbon hydrogen on industrial sites.

UK Endorsement Board: Accountancy

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 28 October (HL3092), what assessment they have made of (1) the discussion between Katherine Coates and Martin Moore QC about obtaining a legal opinion for the UK Endorsement Board, and (2) the reasons for the UK Endorsement Board deciding to use Michael Todd QC instead of Martin Moore QC.

Lord Callanan: The UK Endorsement Board is an independent, unincorporated association which will report annually on the carrying out of its functions to the Secretary of State. This report will be laid in Parliament. The Board is also required to report annually to the FRC which has oversight of its governance and adherence to due process. Procurement of legal advice is a matter for the UK Endorsement Board.

Accountancy: Standards

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the UK Endorsement Board in Paragraph 27 of its endorsement assessment for IFRS 16 that the test required by Paragraph 1(c) of Regulation 7 of The International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 No. 685 was a “true and fair view of the accounts as a whole” when Paragraph 1(c) and Section 393 Companies Act 2006 require a “true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss”.

Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion by the UK Endorsement Board in Paragraph 27 of its endorsement assessment for IFRS 16 that the test required by Paragraph 1(c) of Regulation 7 of The International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 No. 685 had been met and that hence the true and fair view test required by Paragraph 1(a) of that Regulation had been met.

Lord Callanan: The International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 No. 685, regulation 7, paragraph 1(a) sets out the “true and fair” adoption criterion.The endorsement assessment referred to in these questions was included in an Endorsement Criteria Assessment provided by the UK Endorsement Board Secretariat for consideration as a part of the Government’s formal adoption decision.The Government’s assessment applied the three adoption criteria set out in regulation 7.The IASB amendment Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16) extends the date a lessee is permitted to apply a practical expedient to rent concessions that meet certain conditions, from on or before 30 June 2021, to on or before 30 June 2022. This was an extension to a Covid-19-related exemption provided to help shield companies from the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.The Government understands that the UK Endorsement Board Secretariat’s draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment was published for comment and no comments were received on that paragraph.

Department of Health and Social Care

Health: Disadvantaged

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement a health inequalities strategy that targets deprivation and focuses on the impact on (1) physical, and (2) mental, ill-health.

Lord Kamall: On 1 October we launched the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). The OHID will work in partnership with national and local government, the National Health Service, the voluntary sector, industry and the wider public health system to systematically tackle the top preventable risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, improving the public’s health and narrowing health disparities.We are also implementing an obesity strategy, supporting interventions to reduce smoking and providing investment to improve access to health services. We have invested £100 million for weight management services, with higher levels of funding for local areas with higher levels of deprivation and obesity rates. We have increased the Public Health Grant to over £3.3 billion in 2021/22, with the Grant’s distribution weighted towards areas facing the greatest population health challenges and highest levels of deprivation.We have invested £15 million in 2021/22 in a prevention and early intervention stimulus package to promote positive mental health in the most deprived local authority areas in England.

Department of Health and Social Care: Ministerial Powers

Baroness Wheatcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ministerial Directions have been issued in the Department of Health and Social Care since October 2020; and what matters they related to.

Lord Kamall: No Ministerial Directions have been issued in the Department of Health and Social Care since October 2020.

NHS: Finance

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an additional £250 million a week has become available for the NHS since the UK's departure from the EU; and if so, whether they will provide a breakdown of how this has been spent.

Lord Kamall: Detail on overall National Health Service spending will be available in annual reports and accounts for 2020/21 in due course. In September an agreement was reached with Her Majesty’s Treasury to provide a further £15.7 billion to the NHS over three years from April 2022 to March 2025. This funding comes on top of the historic long-term settlement for the NHS, which will see NHS funding increase by £33.9 billion by 2023/24 and was announced prior to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to invest in early intervention for psychosis.

Lord Kamall: We are investing £975 million by 2023/24 in services including early intervention for psychosis.

Department for Education

Secondary Education: Equality

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the manifesto by Teach FirstA fighting chance for every child: a manifesto for ending educational inequality, published in August; and in particular the recommendation that they should "pilot a reduction in teachers' timetables" in one per cent of the most disadvantaged secondary schools in England.

Baroness Barran: The department read the report with interest. Being taught by a high-quality teacher is the single most important in-school factor affecting pupil outcomes and it has the biggest impact on the grades of pupils from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The department recognises that some schools and local areas face more challenges recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and need targeted support. That is why we are delivering targeted programmes, including targeting financial incentives at disadvantaged schools and funding professional development: In academic year 2020/21, the department targeted the early rollout of our Early Career Framework for 1,900 newly qualified teachers in the North East, Greater Manchester, Bradford and Doncaster. We have announced a Levelling Up Premium worth up to £3,000 tax-free for maths, physics, chemistry, and computing teachers in years 1 to 5 of their careers. This will support recruitment and retention of specialist secondary school teachers in these subjects and in the schools and areas that need them most. We will confirm the full eligibility details, including the eligible schools and areas, in due course. The department has taken action to improve teacher and leader workload, working with the profession to understand and address both longstanding issues around marking, planning and data management and the challenges presented by COVID-19. The Department for Education school workload reduction toolkit, developed alongside school leaders, is a helpful resource that is being used by schools to review and reduce workload in their unique context. We are working with the sector on an update to be published in the coming months.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nigeria: Fulani

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 5 July (HL1232), what further steps they have taken in Nigeria to (1) "promote intercommunal and interfaith dialogue", and (2) "continue to call for solutions that address the complex underlying causes of violence".

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the escalation of violence in Nigeria, and (2) the risk of local vigilante armies emerging, as a result of (a) inaction by the government of Nigeria, and (b) reports of Nigerian military collusion in attacks.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Government is concerned by increasing insecurity in Nigeria, including the rise in both criminal violence and intercommunal violence. We are also concerned by increasing vigilantism in response. We condemn all violence against civilians in Nigeria. We continue to promote intercommunal and interfaith dialogue. Our High Commissioner and her team regularly visit states affected by violence to engage with state governments, civil society, faith and community leaders and affected communities. Most recently, British High Commission officials visited Plateau state in October 2021, where they met with a range of interlocutors, including Christian and Muslim leaders, who recognised the causes of the intercommunal violence are complex and relate frequently to criminality, competition for resources and failures of governance.On 1 November the Minister for Africa raised insecurity in Nigeria with Foreign Minister Onyeama in the margins of the COP26 summit in Glasgow. The Prime Minister also discussed insecurity with President Buhari in the margins of the Global Education Summit in July. We will continue to urge and support the Nigerian Government to take action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence.

Ministry of Defence

Shipbuilding

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the National Shipbuilding Office regarding the development of the refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy; and when the Strategy will be published.

Baroness Goldie: The National Shipbuilding Office is working across Government to develop the Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which will be published later this year.

Navy: Shipping

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they took in developing their plans for a new Royal Navy Surveillance Ship; when it will be ordered; when they expect it will enter service; whether it will have the capacity to repair subsea cables; and whether it will be built in the UK.

Baroness Goldie: The new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance Ship is in its concept and assessment phase. Options for the procurement strategy are being explored, but no firm decision has yet been made.The vessel will primarily undertake survey work and will also enable us to better protect our undersea cables and energy supplies. It will form part of the 30-year cross-Government shipbuilding pipeline which will be published in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh later this year.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Methane

Baroness Blackstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply byLord Callanan on 3 November (HL Deb, col 1215), what assessment they have made of the reduction of methane emissions required in different sectors in order for the UK to meet the COP26 pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030; and whether they intend to publish a methane reduction strategy.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Global Methane Pledge is a commitment for signatories to take voluntary actions to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, against 2020 levels. The UK is proud to have been one of the first signatories to the Global Methane Pledge. The UK already has a strong record on methane emission reductions, having reduced UK territorial methane emissions by 60% compared to 1990 levels. This is more than any other OECD country. While global methane emissions peaked in 2020, the UK’s methane emissions peaked in 1991 and have decreased substantially since then, due to concerted action across the energy, waste and agriculture sectors. However, we are not resting on our laurels and we will continue to take action to reduce UK methane emissions even further. We have set out our plans to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions across different sectors in the recently published Net Zero Strategy. International collaboration is vital for making further progress on methane emissions. Sharing best practice, innovative technologies, and collaborating on data and science to ensure we have the most accurate picture of the sources of these emissions, and the most effective solutions. The UK is committed to supporting global action.

Seas and Oceans: Plastics

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to remove masses of plastic from the oceans.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Plastic pollution in the ocean is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today, with estimates suggesting that around 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, a figure that is predicted to increase three-fold between 2016 and 2040. This is why there is an immediate need to better manage plastic waste and prevent plastic pollution from entering ocean in the first place. Domestically, the UK supports the Fishing for Litter scheme, a voluntary, unpaid litter bycatch removal scheme by commercial fishermen, run by Komunernes International Miljøorganisation (KIMO), which provides fishing boats with bags to dispose of marine-sourced litter collected during normal fishing operations and the development of similar local schemes. In 2019, we changed marine licensing measures to make it easier for divers to recover marine litter, including abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. We also support and endorse national clean up campaigns such as the Great British Beach Clean, and the UK Government funds the Marine Conservation Society to record litter from sections of our coasts which helps us monitor the levels and trends of plastic pollution across several years. This data is used in combination with other monitoring data to inform our decisions about how to tackle marine litter.Additionally, our 25 Year Environment Plan establishes our target of reducing all forms of marine plastic pollution where possible, and our Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how we will achieve this, including through consulting on measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for fishing gear by 2022 to ensure that fishing gear that is no longer fit for purpose is disposed of correctly and is prevented from polluting the ocean. Internationally, the UK has supported the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) since 2018. GPAP brings together world leaders, decision-makers and industry to take collaborative action on tackling plastic pollution in developing countries. The UK are active members of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI): a pioneering alliance of the fishing industry, private companies, NGOs and Governments working to solve the global problem of ghost fishing gear. The UK also launched the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance in 2018, along with our co-chair Vanuatu, to reduce marine plastic pollution. Since its launch, 34 Commonwealth member states have united to take action on tackling plastic pollution. Furthermore, the UK has co-sponsored a resolution to start negotiations for a new internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution at the United Nations Environment Assembly. A new international instrument would build upon the important work we are doing to tackle marine litter both domestically and internationally and support our commitments to reduce additional plastic pollution in the ocean to zero.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Pay and Visas

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) how HGV drivers’ average earnings in the UK compare to those in the rest of Europe, and (2) how many European HGV drivers are likely to apply to the temporary visa scheme to work in the UK; and what steps they are taking to incentivise take-up of the scheme.

Lord Benyon: 4700 visas will be available for HGV drivers delivering food ahead of Christmas 2021. Defra is not going to provide a running commentary on scheme take-up. However, industry engagement has been positive.Defra continues to work with other Government departments and industries and has already taken action to support the road haulage sector with measures to help to attract new drivers, simplify training, and to encourage people to return to or stay in the industry. The Government encourages all sectors to make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, careers options, attractive wages and good working conditions.

Food: Consumption and Production

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the proportion of food (1) grown, and (2) consumed, in the UK.

Lord Benyon: The Government has a manifesto commitment that 'we want people, both at home and abroad, to be lining up to buy British'. To increase both domestic and overseas demand, we will use the UK's growing reputation for high-quality food and drink produced to high standards of food safety, animal welfare and sustainability. We are working with the public sector to encourage them to buy seasonal and local produce, encourage variety in diets and support local businesses. This includes promoting the high standards of British produce. We will always champion our farmers and producers, supporting them to grow more of our great British food, and to provide a reliable and sustainable food supply to the British public. Farming efficiently and improving the environment can go hand in hand. This does not have to be a trade-off, as many land management activities will benefit the environment as well as productivity. Our future farming policy will not only reward a range of environmental improvements, but also support investment in technology and research to improve productivity – helping farmers to produce the high-quality food we are renowned for. The new Farming Investment Fund will provide grants to farmers, foresters and growers (including contractors to these sectors) so that they can invest in the equipment, technology and infrastructure that will help their businesses to prosper, while improving their productivity and enhancing the environment. These grants will help producers to focus on more efficient production methods that will reduce resource costs, improve yields, and give them a better return. These initiatives together with our new Farming Innovation Programme, a farmer-led funding programme for research and development to boost innovation and improve the productivity and prosperity of England’s agricultural and horticultural sectors, will provide a catalyst for growth for all regions of the UK. Our food security depends on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable export routes. Overall, we produce 60% of all the food we need. That figure increases to 74% as a percentage of the food which UK conditions allow us to grow or rear in the UK, for all or part of the year. These figures have changed little over the last 20 years. UK consumers have almost constant access through international trade to food products that we cannot produce here, or can only produce for some of the year; this also supplements our excellent domestic production. Importantly, this also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.

Home Office

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Campbell of Pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect Afghan refugees from harassment in the hotelsand other temporary accommodation in which they reside.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We take the safety and welfare of the people we accommodate very seriously.The Home Office have contracted Mitie to provide security to all bridging hotels that we are using to temporarily accommodate guests evacuated from Afghanistan, ensuring guards are available on all entry and exit points 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . All security guards in our bridging hotels are in unbranded uniform. Security at the sites remain under constant review.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Buildings: Water Supply

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that recycled rainwater is used in (1) new dwellings, (2) refurbished dwellings, and (3) commercial buildings.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Building Regulations 2010 Parts G & H include requirements relating to water efficiency and grey water harvesting. For new homes, statutory guidance for Part G of the Building Regulations includes a minimum standard for estimated water consumption set at 125 litres per person per day, and an optional standard of 110 litres per person per day, which may be adopted in water stressed areas at the discretion of the local planning authority.In July 2021, Government responded to its consultation on Measures to Reduce Personal Water Consumption (attached) https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/water-conservation-measures-to-reduce-personal-water-use . Within this consultation response we committed to developing a roadmap, in 2022, towards greater water efficiency in new developments and retrofits, including the exploration of revised building regulations and how the development of new technologies can contribute to meeting these standards. We will ensure that the underlying legislation can, where appropriate, accommodate any potential future expansion of rainwater harvesting, water re-use and storage options.Reduce personal water use (pdf, 629.4KB)

Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the management of the (1) Holocaust Memorial, and (2) Learning Centre, in Victoria Tower Gardens.

Lord Greenhalgh: We are considering a range of operating models for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Buildings: Insulation

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those living in buildings with dangerous cladding do not need to pay towards the costs of remedying this danger.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government is investing an unprecedented £5.1 billion to fund the cost of replacing unsafe cladding for leaseholders in residential buildings 18 metres and over in England. The fire risk is lower in buildings under 18 metres and costly remediation work is usually not needed. Where fire risks are identified, they should always be managed proportionately. The new Secretary of State is looking closely at this issue to make sure everything is being done to support leaseholders.

Buildings: Construction

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the use of wood in the construction of new buildings.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government's England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) was published on 18 May 2021 and outlines the actions we are taking to increase the use of timber in construction, where it is safe to do so. This builds on commitments in the 25 Year Environment Plan and Clean Growth Strategy.   The Net Zero Strategy published on 19 October 2021 sets out the important role which timber and other sustainable construction materials will play in meeting our net zero targets. Guided by market analysis, fire safety and structural considerations, key opportunities for the safe growth of timber use will be in low-rise buildings using traditional and certain modern methods of construction, and in a wide range of commercial and non-residential settings.   We are working with key construction stakeholders to develop a policy roadmap on the use of timber in construction.

Imperial War Museum

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission Report, published on 27 January 2015, why they do not regard the new Holocaust Galleries at the Imperial War Museum as the Holocaust Learning Centre.

Lord Greenhalgh: The case for a Learning Centre was set out in Britain’s Promise to Remember, the report of the Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission, published in January 2015.

Treasury

Investment Income: Income Tax

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional revenues could be raised by aligning Dividend Tax rates with Income Tax rates applied to earned income.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Increasing the current rates of dividend tax to the current headline rates of income tax could theoretically raise around £8 billion a year, based on the 2021-22 tax rates. In practice, significantly less would be raised due to behavioural responses to any increases. The Government has committed to increase rates of dividend tax by 1.25 percentage points, which is expected to raise £900 million a year by the end of the scorecard, accounting for behavioural responses. The higher rates of dividend tax from 2022-23 would therefore reduce the additional revenue that would be raised from increasing dividend rates to the rates of income tax. The Government will continue to keep the tax system under constant review to ensure it is simple and efficient.

Capital Gains Tax: Income Tax

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional revenues could be raised by aligning Capital Gains Tax rates with Income Tax rates applied to earned income.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Last year, the Chancellor commissioned the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) to carry out a review of Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Their first report contains revenue estimates of the static impact of aligning CGT rates with those of Income Tax and can be found on the gov.uk website. It was estimated that aligning CGT with Income Tax rates could have theoretically raised £14 billion in 2018-19 but, in practice, significantly less would be raised due to behavioural responses. The Government will respond to the OTS report in due course. The Government will continue to keep the tax system under constant review to ensure it is simple and efficient.

Monetary Policy

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of England about reversing quantitative easing; and what assessment have they made of its effects on public finances.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Monetary policy is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England and this includes decisions on quantitative easing. The Government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy. As set out in the letter exchange between the Chancellor and Governor on 5 November 2020, the Government indemnifies the Bank of England’s Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle that delivers quantitative easing. As part of this, there are oversight arrangements in place, including regular risk oversight meetings between Treasury and Bank senior officials which monitor the scheme’s implementation and risks to the Exchequer. The Office of Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 27 October 2021, sets out the fiscal impacts of the Asset Purchase Facility including the effects of a potential unwind of quantitative easing over the forecast period.

Cash Dispensing

Baroness Eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to audit the proportion of the UK's cash network that uses technology either (1) developed, or (2) manufactured, in states which may be hostile to the UK's interests.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: Ensuring the operational resilience of the financial services sector and the protection of consumers is a key priority for the Government.Responsibility for the UK financial services sector’s networks and online services is primarily for the firms themselves. However, Government, in partnership with the financial regulators, is committed to driving improvements in resilience and reducing vulnerabilities within the finance sector, including those posed by advances in digital technology.In March 2021, the financial regulators published their new operational resilience policy which will increase the finance sector’s resilience to threats posed by technological failure and disruption. It will ensure firms are better equipped to prevent, adapt, respond to, recover and learn from operational disruption.Increasing the sector’s resilience to advancements in technology remains a key priority for the Government and financial regulators, including through close cooperation with other sectoral regulators and financial regulators internationally. The financial regulators will publish a Discussion Paper focusing on risks stemming from critical third parties in 2022.

Cash Dispensing: Cybercrime

Baroness Eaton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat posed by cyber attacks on the UK's cash network.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: HM Treasury works closely with the other Financial Authorities (the Bank of England, Prudential Regulation Authority, and the Financial Conduct Authority), Intelligence Agencies and Law Enforcement to understand the range of threats posed to finance sector organisations and to ensure that the system is robust to a wide range of operational risks, including cyber. The Financial Authorities also work together to assess, test and improve the operational resilience, including the cyber resilience, of the finance sector. The UK's Financial Authorities have well-established mechanisms for responding to operational disruption were it to occur, including providing the support of the National Cyber Security Centre where necessary.

Liverpool Victoria: Takeovers

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to exercise their statutory powers to examine the takeover of Liverpool Victoria insurance company.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The assessment and approval of the proposed sale and demutualisation of LV= (previously Liverpool Victoria) is an ongoing and independent process, overseen and scrutinised by the financial services regulators, and subject to approval by the Courts. It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in this independent process. The regulators’ supervision of the sale includes an assessment of the fairness of the transaction, the impact on policyholders and competition in the interests of consumers, and the quality of communications with members of LV=. The Court processes involve a number of safeguards which are designed to ensure that policyholders are kept informed and their interests protected.

Ministerial Powers

Baroness Wheatcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ministerial Directions have been issued since October 2020.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: There have been two Ministerial Directions issued since October 2020: one by the Secretary of State in Defra concerning a Movement Assistance Scheme to support traders moving agri-food commodities and equines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and one by the Secretary of State in the then Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government concerning the funding of fire alarms and walking watches for private and social sector buildings over 18 metres with unsafe cladding.

Treasury: Ministerial Responsibility

Baroness Wheatcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ministerial Directions have been issued in Her Majesty's Treasury since October 2020; and what matters they related to.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: None.There have been two Ministerial Directions issued since October 2020: one by the Secretary of State in Defra concerning a Movement Assistance Scheme to support traders moving agri-food commodities and equines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and one by the Secretary of State in the then Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government concerning the funding of fire alarms and walking watches for private and social sector buildings over 18 metres with unsafe cladding.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Electric and Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of other countries regarding the resilience of the UK's subsea cables.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: By their nature, sub-sea telecommunications cables are international. The Government engages with international partners and organisations on a wide range of cable issues to inform our national arrangements and to ensure the effective operation of the global telecommunications network.

Electric and Telecommunications Cables: Seas and Oceans

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the resilience of subsea cables will be considered in the new National Resilience Strategy; whether they plan to designate subsea cables as critical national infrastructure; and if not, what steps they are taking to increase the resilience of the UK's subsea cables.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Due to their sensitivity, the Government does not comment on assets, facilities, systems, networks or processes that are classified as Critical National Infrastructure. However, the Government takes the security and resilience of sub-sea cables very seriously and work is ongoing to take these considerations into account throughout the development of a National Resilience Strategy, as set out in the Integrated Review published earlier this year.The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is the lead department for sub-sea telecommunications cables and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for sub-sea energy cables. Both departments consider, on a case-by-case basis, assets considered critical infrastructure, including sub-sea infrastructure. Operators have arrangements in place to ensure a prompt response to damage or disruption. The departments work closely with the operators, regulators and others to assess risks and ensure there are appropriate resilience and mitigation measures in place.

Cybercrime

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) small, and (2) medium, sized telecommunications providers in mitigating Distributed Denial of Service attacks.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are a well-known type of cyber attack, used by a range of attackers against a range of targets across the world. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published guidance to help organisations understand and mitigate this type of attack. The NCSC can also work with organisations affected by DDoS attacks to provide the necessary advice and support, and victims can refer incidents to the National Crime Agency for consideration of a criminal investigation.More widely, the Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications networks and services. That is why we introduced the Telecommunications (Security) Bill which will establish a new telecoms security framework, including new duties and requirements on public telecommunications providers to identify and prevent the risk of a wide range of security compromises, such as those resulting from DDoS attacks. Small and medium-sized telecommunications providers will be subject to those duties and requirements.

COP26

UN Climate Conference 2021: Northern Ireland

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of how the COP26 conference can benefit the people of Northern Ireland.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are committed to working with Northern Ireland, as well as the other devolved nations, to ensure an inclusive and ambitious Presidency for the whole of the UK. COP26 has helped make sure our recovery from COVID-19 builds a better future – one with green jobs, cleaner air and increasing prosperity.Through our domestic 'Together for our Planet' campaign we are building awareness and understanding of COP26 across the UK. For example, we ran our Creative Earth art competition in partnership with WWF inviting young people from around the UK to design artwork setting out their vision for the planet. The winning artworks were showcased at COP26, including a design from Alex in Northern Ireland who was the 13-16 age category winner.We also worked with the devolved administrations to identify 'Together for our Planet Ambassadors' – individuals and organisations across the UK who are taking small steps to protect our planet and inspire wider climate action. One of our Ambassadors is a youth environmentalist, Emer Rafferty from Northern Ireland.We also encouraged stakeholders from Northern Ireland who would like to be involved in events or showcasing in UKG managed spaces at COP26 to submit bids through an Expression of Interest process. All parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, have been represented in the Green Zone programme that was published on 1 October.

UN Climate Conference 2021: Hydrogen

Lord Naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government why blue hydrogen was not(1) highlighted, or (2) listed on the agendas, in official events at COP26.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: At COP26 the UK Prime Minister brought together world leaders and private sector representatives to launch the ‘Breakthrough Agenda’ – goals to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible and attractive option globally before 2030. As part of this agenda, 33 countries signed up to the hydrogen Breakthrough, aiming to have affordable, renewable and low carbon hydrogen globally available by 2030. The hydrogen Breakthrough also featured at an event on the Science and Innovation Day.

UN Climate Conference 2021: Disability

Lord Shinkwin: To ask Her Majesty's Government which minister was responsible for ensuring equal disability access to the COP26 summit; what discussions they had regarding disability access to the summit with (1) the Scottish Government, and (2) event organisers, prior to the opening of the summit; and whether they will publish their communications with (a) the Scottish Government, (b) the office of Karin Elharar, the Israeli Energy Minister, and (c) event organisers, concerning disability access to the summit.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We remain committed to an inclusive COP26, accessible to all, and the venue was designed to facilitate that. When officials were made aware of the issue in question, which was a genuine mistake, they worked urgently with the Israeli delegation to resolve this and the UK Government apologised to Minister Elharrar.The COP26 permanent structures were fully wheelchair accessible and the venue holds gold level accessibility status. For the temporary structures a complete accessibility audit was completed and they were fully compliant.The COP26 Unit Civil Society Engagement Team established an official-led Disability Inclusive Working Group, composed of disability Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), who provided helpful guidance to the unit in the run up to COP26.